Project to double paddy cultivation

 
The Agricultural Department is implementing ' Ellavarum Padathekku' , a Rs.100-crore comprehensive project aimed at doubling paddy cultivation in the state by 2010. The project will be launched in September, Agricultural Minister Mullakkara  Ratnakaran said in a statement here. A core committee with the Agricultural director as convener, soil and paddy experts as members has been formed for implementing the project. The Agricultural Production Commissioner will supervise the implementation of the project. The project involves reviving 'group farming' and combining them with the latest technology and agriculture machinery available to rev up production in the state. The paddy thus produced will be procured at the highest rates in the country. During the last two harvest seasons, 2.51 lakh tonnes of paddy were procured from the major paddy production zones in the state. Two more rice mills, in addition to the recently-opened one at Alathur, will be operational soon. As part of encouraging farming in the fallow lands, Rs.5000  will be given s financial aid to farmers per hectare. The Agriculture Department is spearheading an action-plan to revive 1,000 hectares in Pathanamthitta. The aim of the project is to spread paddy cultivation to three lakh hectares and up production to 12 lakh tonnes

The New Indian Express, 6th August 2008